Becoming a Warrior

by Moose Tyler

  Penelope waved as Amaria approached. “Happy Genesis,” she said.

  “Happy Genesis, P.” She clasped Penelope’s hand properly. “How’s your mother?”

  Penelope smiled. “She sends her love, and she can’t wait to hear the results from today’s matches. Did you see the groupings?”

  Amaria shook her head. “Haven’t had a chance to check.”

  The schedules of matches were posted all over the arena and at other locations where events took place and at businesses. It was also printed in Tribe Talk, as were the results of each day’s events.

  Amaria walked to the parchment nailed to the wall and looked for her name. There it was. She had been placed in the first group and was scheduled to fight Zora in the second match on the third day. She looked at Penelope in disbelief.

  Penelope shrugged. “They say the pairings are random. Luck of the parchment draw.”

  Amaria nodded as she walked away from the schedule. “I’ll just have to send her out early.”

  Penelope smiled. “I put five arrowheads on it. Oh, and I got you a gift, but I forgot it at the healers’ camp.”

  “That’s okay. Did you get your bird?”

  “No. What bird?”

  “We’ll talk later.”

  Penelope nodded. “The others are already inside. You ready for this?”

  Amaria shrugged. “You ready to carry my bow?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Amaria handed over her bow, and they walked through the entrance together. They passed two guards standing post outside the archway and were waved by. Amaria’s stomach rolled as she entered the long, dark tunnel that lead into the arena. The gravel crunched underfoot, keeping beat to her march. As the space grew brighter, she could hear the muffled chants coming from inside, and the sensation was a jolt of adrenaline.

  Penelope put Amaria’s bow on her back. “Want to jog?”

  Amaria kept composed. “If you want.”

  “Sure,” she said. Her long legs stretched into a jog, the crunching of the gravel now delayed a half a beat.

  Amaria’s legs weren’t as long, and the gravel beneath her feet crunched out a quicker tempo. Together the sounds vibrated through her bones, giving her the energy she needed to start the competition. When they reached the end of the tunnel, they were in a full-blown sprint, racing one another to an undetermined finish line. The midday horns blew as they broke through the darkness, and the sound of cheers was like a gust of wind during the rain season. Amaria bore down, doubling the pace of her stride. As her feet dug into the gravel, the dust swirled up around her, and soon, she passed Penelope. With regards to foot racing, what Amaria lacked in the start, she always made up for in the kick at the end.

  Penelope slowed to a jog as Amaria circled the arena, though now that she was the clear winner, at a somewhat slower pace. The crowd cheered. A few citizens had signs with her name on it. She smiled and waved and continued circling. Ophea, Jax, Elle, and Camille were in a huddle to the left. Amaria waved before looping back around, this time slowing to a jog and occasionally shifting to other calisthenics like high knees and butt kicks.

  She saw Ursula among the hooligans in the front row of the Rowdy Section. She couldn’t be missed. She wore an orange smock and a green and orange knitted cap, the two colors of the uniform Amaria wore to compete in. Ursula said there were many Amaria fans, but that she was always number one. Amaria heard her loud whoops as she passed. Bridget and Polly were cheering beside Ursula, and Calandra and Cat were behind them clapping and whistling.

  The queen’s seats were on the west side. Normally, Amaria would find her mother in the crowd before the competition started. This cycle, she avoided the ritual. She scanned right as she slowed her jog to a brisk walk and saw Zora stretching in the middle of the arena with Lyla standing close by, holding a bow. Zora looked up, and a smile crept to her lips. She walked over, picked her sword off the ground, and examined the blade. Amaria laughed at her attempt at being menacing. You don’t stand a chance.

  Amaria refocused on her warm up. She sauntered over to Penelope, who was now standing with the others.

  “Happy Genesis,” Ophea said, as Amaria approached. “You ready for this?”

  “As ready as I’m going to be. Happy Genesis.” Amaria wished Jax, Elle, and Camille the same. “You ready for this?”

  Camille nodded. “I’ve had a few practice runs.”

  Ophea shook her head. “Not even close. I haven’t fired a bow in moons.”

  Ophea and Camille competed in Horse and Bows every cycle. Between the two, Ophea was the stronger competitor. Amaria was relieved to hear that she wasn’t prepared either. She sat on the ground and stretched. “What ride are you?”

  Ophea joined her. “Right after you.”

  “Blessed number eight for me,” said Camille, standing.

  A Games official walked by. “All bows must be checked before you ride.” She walked on, repeating the instructions to the others huddled around the arena.

  Penelope took the bow off her back. “Let’s let these riders focus.”

  Elle and Jax picked up Camille and Ophea’s bows.

  “Great Mother bless you today,” Elle said.

  Jax chimed in. “Stick it dead center, Sisters.”

  They walked across the arena to the judges’ table and stood in line with the other First Hands.

  “I’m going to get some stretches in,” said Amaria. “If I don’t speak for a few heartbeats, it’s just that I’m ignoring you.”

  Ophea laughed. “No offense taken, Sister.”

  Amaria spread out her legs and leaned close to the ground. As she inhaled and exhaled, she thought about how much she loved the arena. She could smell the dust in the air, but it wasn’t overpowering, more like a few foot soldiers out to survey the land before the battle began. The real army hid in the crevices of the pebbles and wouldn’t attack until later, after the horses and competition had stirred it up. She looked at the queen’s seats and wondered what was being said. Her heart skipped a beat then raced to catch up. Forget about the queen. “Get her out of your head,” she said.

  She leaned down and rested her forehead on the gravel underneath her and tried to relax her thoughts. The stretch felt good, and her heartbeat steadied and her mind went blank as she concentrated on her breathing. The sun felt warm on her shoulders. She adjusted her position and stretched deeper. She imagined the targets and visualized the release of the arrow.

  She heard the crunching of sandals coming out of the tunnel. The targets were being set up. She pulled herself out of the stretch, stood, and jogged in place. She warmed up her shoulders as Penelope, Jax, and Elle walked over.

  “You’re all checked in,” said Penelope, “I went ahead and dusted the grip.”

  Amaria clasped Penelope’s forearm. “Thanks, P. Best First Hand at the Games.”

  Jax protested. “I don’t know about that.”

  “Yeah,” Elle and Camille said.

  Horns blew, and the crowd cheered loudly. The stamping of feet in the past had been inspiring, but this cycle, it made Amaria feel on edge. The horses were led into the arena, and the horns blasted a few more times. The spectators simmered down. There was movement in the queen’s seat.

  The queen stood. The only sound was wind. “Let the Genesis Games begin!”

  The horns trumpeted a few times, and the arena erupted in hoots and hollers.

  Janus, Daphne, and Mona entered from the competitors’ entrance and waved. Janus walked to the center and joined the competitors. Daphne and Mona took their posts at opposite ends. Amaria was relieved to see that Janus was one of the judges this cycle. Usually Helen performed the task for Horse and Bows. Amaria thought of Sakina, but pushed the worry from her mind.

  Janus smiled before reciting the rules, a different tactic than Helen’s for sure. She always s
narled at the competitors and added insults in between instructions. No matter the delivery, the rules were the same every cycle, but Amaria paid close attention anyway. She was a fierce competitor and preferred a level playing field, one where everyone knew, understood, and abided by the rules. She looked at Zora on the other side of the circle, biting her fingernails. She looked at Amaria and smirked before spitting a chewed-off piece in her direction. Amaria shook her head and looked at Janus. Janus rounded out the rules with well wishes for every competitor before walking to the start line.

  Horse and Bows was the most difficult of all bow events, including distance. Though it was always the first contest of the Games, Amaria thought it would have been better later in the day, after the archers had warmed up. Firing a bow from horseback was not easy, and the preliminaries were notorious for weeding out weaker archers. Horse and Bows went first because it was the queen’s tribute to her army, but others said it was to let those wagering on the Games see the quality of the archers for future bets before the red weed and special tea that accompanied the Genesis celebration had taken control of the senses.

  Amaria took her place in line. She and Penelope were third. Ophea and Jax lined up behind them.

  “Great Mother bless your ride,” Amaria said to Camille, as she and Elle walked to their place at the end, two riders in front of Zora. She would ride last. Amaria would have preferred that slot but going earlier had its perks. Once you were done, you were done.

  She watched the first riders, Brie and Sasha, attempt the course. Both had mediocre success, and the crowd’s excitement waned. Amaria was next.

  Penelope handed her the quiver. “You got this, Ree.”

  She strapped it on her back. “Thanks, P.”

  “Good luck,” Sasha said, as she passed by.

  Amaria took her bow from the rack. “Good ride, Sasha.”

  Sasha shrugged and handed the quiver to her First Hand.

  “Don’t fall off,” said Ophea.

  Amaria laughed. “You wish.” She put the bow on her back, walked to the start line, and took the reins from Janus. “Thank you.”

  Janus stepped back, and Amaria mounted the horse, readied her bow, and waited for the cue to begin. Janus looked at the other judges to verify that they were ready. Both waved, and Janus paused to listen to her heart. She was, after all, the official counter for this event.

  After a few beats passed, she looked at Amaria. “You may begin when ready.”

  Amaria nodded. She leaned down and whispered a few words of inspiration to the horse. She patted its neck, dug her knees in, and yelped a short war cry as she kicked its ribs. It sprang to a start. Amaria urged the beast to move faster as she approached the first turn. Her thighs gripped tight as the horse slid around the barrel. Her bow poised for the target, she dug her heels in again. It sprinted harder, and she fired the first shot. The arrow landed just right of dead center. Cheers erupted, but she didn’t have the heartbeats to marvel at her success because she had to reload and have the weapon steady before pulling out of the second turn, which was fast-approaching. The move was swift, and her bow was armed when the horse straightened out. She fired but didn’t look to see where it hit before loading. She fired again. It hit, but she was unsure of where. The horse was already skirting the next barrel. This beast can move. She reloaded and fired the fourth shot. The crowd went berserk, which meant she had either hit it dead center or missed completely.

  She rounded the last barrel and saw two targets, one on the left and one on the right. She blew the braids from her eyes and fired. Her bow was armed again in two heartbeats. She shifted position and aimed at the second target. It was nearly too late. She got the shot off just as the horse sped past the target, and the horns were blown.

  She had no idea how she had fared, but she gave it a good show. The fans cheered loudly as she rode around the arena. When she passed the queen’s seats, she saw her mother clapping excitedly. Amaria smiled and waved, but when she saw the queen sitting still as stone, she put her head down and trotted the horse back to the start line. She dismounted and handed the reins to Janus.

  Jax gave Ophea a quiver. “That’s going to be tough to beat,” she said.

  Ophea nodded and took her bow from the rack. “Any advice?” she asked Amaria.

  Amaria smiled. “Yeah, don’t fall off.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Thanks.”

  Amaria smiled and walked over to Penelope. Several of the other riders congratulated her as she went.

  “Good ride,” Penelope said. “I thought you were going to lose it on the last shot.”

  Amaria removed her bow and empty quiver. “Me, too. Still good enough to get in the finals.”

  Penelope took the gear and strapped them across her shoulder. “Definitely.”

  It didn’t take long before her scores were announced. Of the six shots, she had hit center on four and was within the first ring on the other two. Her speed was impressive, too. She had completed the course in ninety-eight of Janus’s heartbeats. It wasn’t as good as the cycle she had finished in ninety, but this was only the preliminaries. Her scores would be high enough to bump her into the finals. The arena egged her to take a bow. She stepped away from Penelope and waved. The noise rose in volume for a few heartbeats before finally dying down as Ophea began her ride.

  Amaria glanced over and saw Zora at the end of the line smirking, though as far as Zora smirks were concerned, this one had less snarl to it. Amaria smiled at her before returning her attention to the competition.

  Ophea wove around the course at a decent speed, but when she fired the last two arrows, Amaria knew she had her beat. She hadn’t hit any in the center, and one shot was way off the mark, but compared to weaker riders, Ophea’s scores would fare well. She took her ride around the arena, but Amaria could tell she wasn’t pleased. She rode swiftly and only waved at the end before dismounting and passing the reins to the next competitor.

  She walked over. “That was pathetic. Great Mother, I’m rusty.”

  Amaria clasped her forearm. “You’re all right. You made it through.”

  Jax took Ophea’s bow and quiver. “Hand-to-Hand is where it’s at this cycle.”

  “It’s not over yet,” said Penelope. “It’s anyone’s crown in the finals.”

  Amaria socked her arm. “Anyone’s crown?”

  Penelope laughed. “Forgive me, Ophea. I meant second is still up for grabs.”

  “I’ll be blessed if I place.”

  Amaria patted Ophea’s back. “You’ll place.”

  She shrugged, and they all turned to watch the remaining competitors’ rides.

  The next few had average results, but none got close to Amaria’s accuracy. Her competitive spirit started to falter as Camille and Elle reached the front of the line.

  “Dig in, Camille,” said Amaria. “The beast is fast.”

  Amaria didn’t mind giving Camille advice. She was a better climber than rider and was no competition in Horse and Bows. There was only one true challenger left to ride.

  As expected, Camille performed worse than Ophea.

  “Great Mother is kind,” Ophea said.

  “She’ll do better in climbing,” said Elle. She clapped and whistled as Camille trotted the horse to the start line.

  She dismounted and walked over. “They’re getting restless out there. I may win the crown for most boos.”

  “No way,” said Amaria. She looked at Penelope. “I didn’t think there were many.”

  Penelope shook her head. “Me either.”

  Ophea shrugged. “There were some.”

  “But not too much,” said Jax.

  Elle took Camille’s quiver and bow. “You’ll get it next cycle.”

  “Thanks, Sisters.” Camille clasped Elle’s forearm. “Now, let’s pray someone does worse.”

  The next to las
t rider was a weak shooter named Corinne. Only by the Great Mother’s grace could Corinne outperform Amaria. As she took off, Zora stepped up to the ready. She looked over smugly. Amaria yawned. She hadn’t meant to, but judging from the look on Zora’s face, it was an appropriately-delivered insult. She spat on the ground, stretched out her arms, and got more focused on the task at hand.

  Amaria laughed and turned to see Corinne fire her third shot. She hit way off the mark, and the crowd groaned. Zora ran in place and slapped her thighs. She turned to Lyla, and Lyla handed her a quiver. Corinne nicked the fourth and fifth target, but she missed the last one completely. The spectators hissed. The mob was restless. Had Corinne performed well, she would have received thundering applause, but instead several booed and many laughed as she finished her lap around the arena.

  Penelope adjusted her position for a better look. “That’s too bad.”

  “Yes, it is,” said Amaria, casually moving closer to the action.

  Zora was next. She gripped the reins and heaved herself up on the horse in a brutish way.

  “So dramatic,” Penelope whispered to Amaria.

  Amaria smiled. “She has to make a statement.”

  After a few heartbeats, Zora jabbed her heels into the horse, and it sprang into a gallop. Amaria held her breath and watched as she rounded the first turn and fired. It hit the target, only from her view, she couldn’t see where.

  Zora flew through the course and was soon plowing around the last barrel and taking aim. Amaria heard the arrows sink into leather as the horse rushed past the finish line. She had hit both targets dead center, and the crowd went wild. The stamping and chanting were deafening. Amaria looked at Penelope.

  Penelope shrugged. “That was pretty good.”